Two Middlesbrough drug dealers enlisted the help of an ex-Army sergeant, who once catered for members of the Royal Family, to cover up part of their criminal gains.

Husband and wife Christopher and Jane Moloney's finances were probed after they were convicted in 2005 of conspiring to supply Class A drugs and money laundering.

The Moloneys, both 39, formerly of The Avenue, Linthorpe, had to detail their last six years of income and assets in proceedings to confiscate criminal gains.

They were eventually ordered to pay £200,000 each from the massive illicit enterprise.

One of their criminal assets was a £31,500 BMW sports convertible, which they falsely claimed had been sold, prosecutor Neil Davey QC told a Teesside Crown Court jury.

The car was discovered at the home of Christopher Moloney's sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Brian Owens in January last year.

He said the Owens - "trusted family" - agreed to let the Moloneys hide the BMW from the authorities in North Yorkshire, "miles away from Middlesbrough where anybody would ever think of looking for it", to prevent it being confiscated.

The court heard Brian Owens was manager and his wife housekeeper of the RAOB Convalescent Home in Skipton Lane, Harrogate, where the couple lived.

Mr Owens was previously a sergeant and chef in the Army. In the Catering Corps, he had worked in "high-profile entertaining" and catered for dignitaries including the Queen Mother and Prince Philip.

He put up a £50,000 surety for each of the Moloneys' bail before the drugs trial, so the couple stood to lose £100,000 if their relatives absconded.

Despite this pledge, Middlesbrough-born Mrs Owens claimed she did not know and was not interested in the details of the Moloneys' drugs and money charges.

She said Christopher Moloney parked the car at their home wanting to keep it undamaged and claiming he had nowhere decent to put it.

She said: "I never ever thought I was doing anything wrong."

Mr Owens said he agreed to look after the car as an innocent favour of family loyalty, suspecting nothing untoward, and would have handed it over if anyone asked for it.

The Owens, of previous good character, and Jane Moloney, who gave no evidence in her defence, all denied concealing criminal property. Jane Moloney also denied lying in a statement to pervert the course of justice.

The three were unanimously convicted of these charges by a jury this week.

Christopher Moloney had admitted both offences. He and his wife are still serving their prison sentences, of 12 and eight years respectively.

All four will be sentenced next month. The Owens, who are on bail, will face their own confiscation proceedings.